If you have lived the majority of your life overweight, you’ve most likely tried countless weight loss programs, weight loss diets and a healthy dose of drugs and pills to boot. Anyone who has gone through these experiences know that the ultimate “diet killer” is your own lack of self-control and focus.
When it comes to weight loss you may secretly be your own worst enemy. Before we get started on that, let’s look at the fact that accomplishing any goal, large or small, requires a mind that is clearly focused on the desired end.
What does that mean? It means turning self-talk into a positive advantage and using your rational mind to help fuel and motivate your efforts. After all, the choice is yours: let your mind sabotage your efforts or let it help inspire better eating habits and encourage healthy weight-loss outcomes.
If you’ve tried losing weight or a weight loss program before, and have found it to be an uphill battle in which you lose a few pounds only to gain back several more, then it’s time to break the psychological cycle that may be holding you back from your goal.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CYCLE OF WEIGHT GAIN
In a world where thin is in, it’s not unusual for people who are overweight to carry the burden of lower self-esteem. Add to that the social stigma or prejudice that overweight individuals encounter and a psychological cycle for weight gain can be set in motion or unhealthy eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia) can develop. People, overweight as well as thin, often eat in response to stress, depression, loneliness and anxiety. This stress-induced or emotional eating can lead to weight gain which in turn leads to lower self-esteem, depression, and anxiety which leads to more stress-based eating and additional weight gain. It’s easy to see how one can become trapped in a dangerous downward spiral and vicious cycle.
Compounding the problem is the fact that individuals who are overweight have less energy, and therefore find it harder to be active, so the risk of gaining weight again increases. A cycle of inactivity and further weight gain can develop: the less active person gains weight and so becomes less active, thereby gaining more weight and so on. Also, life stresses, which are normally alleviated through exercise, start building up which triggers more stress-based eating.
Individuals who try to lose weight and fail may feel depressed, frustrated and even guilty or ashamed and may rely on comfort foods as a way to feel better. The same is true of those who succeed in losing weight, only to gain it back. Anxiety, depression and guilt can produce a feeling of hopelessness that hinders efforts to lose weight.
This is why getting on the right weight loss program is CRUCIAL for successful weight loss. Whether it’s a weight loss diet that you’ve imposed on yourself or a program designed for your body, follow the next seven steps to break the psychological cycle of weight loss.
SEVEN STEPS TO BREAKING THE CYCLE
1. Stop Diet Deprivation. Diets and weight loss programs that put severe restrictions on what you can eat oftentimes arouse binge eating. While you may hold out for a while, one day you’ll decide depriving yourself is not worth it, or you can’t take it anymore, and you dig into the refrigerator, freezer or snack cabinet with a vengeance. Allow yourself small indulgences that are satisfying and will help you avoid harmful binging.
2. Plan Ahead. What if you should slip? The best way to avoid slipping is through pre-planning. So, if you’re off to a backyard barbeque or family gathering decide ahead of time what your plan is. Eat something healthy and filling before you go out and then allow yourself a few special treats at the party, but exercise portion control. If you know that Aunt Mary is making your favorite dessert, plan on having a small slice and savor it. Managing your weight and enjoying life should go hand in hand.
3. Set Realistic Weight Loss Goals. To avoid the frustration of failing, don’t overstress yourself with unrealistic weight loss goals. You gained weight slowly over time and it will take some time to gradually lose that weight. Slow, but sure is the best approach.
4. Choose Healthy Outlets for Emotions. Instead of opening the refrigerator when you’re upset, how about phoning a friend, or take a walk. Discover something that makes you feel calmer or happier – something other than food or alcohol. Do yoga, dance around your living room, meditate or go out bowling with a friend.
5. Stop Harboring Hurts. Work through issues that are upsetting you. Talk to a therapist or even a friend. Don’t let hurts, even old wounds or patterns that reach back into your childhood, affect you and your relationship with food.
6. Remember Why You’re Dieting. It helps to stop and remember why you’re dieting in the first place. Is it to have more energy, look and feel better, alleviate health problems or increase your self esteem? Keeping the goal in mind is critical to your weight loss success.
7. Use Your Mind to Break the Cycle. The fact is you can do it. It’s all in your mind – the power to lose the weight rests with you. Believe you can succeed and you will succeed. If you want to put an end to the psychological cycle of weight gain, start by turning all of your negative self talk into positive affirmations. That’s the best way to break the cycle.
Instead of saying: “Look at that fat belly. It just won’t go away.” Think positive: “Yes, my belly is fat now, but it won’t always be. I plan to be fit, not fat. I’m heading to the gym after work today.”
Keep your goal in mind at all times. Write down your positive affirmations and put up visual reminders of what you want to attain – that dress you want to buy, that seaside resort you’re longing to visit this year, or even a picture the happy person you want to be again. It’s all within reach if you set your mind to it, keep active, exercise, and prepare healthy menus that you enjoy.
Use these seven steps to create a mental turnaround and break through the psychological barriers that are holding you back. If you do, you’ll have the power to achieve permanent weight loss – something that will truly change your future and your life.
Watch the video related to weight loss diet
The Truth about Diet and Weight Loss I want to talk tonight about weight loss. It’s a subject everyone is worried about. And the problem is that diets don’t work. Everybody has tried a diet. I haven’t met a person yet that’s hasn’t tried something, from kids to people in their eighties; everybody has tried some kind of diet and they just don’t work. In recent studies when they looked at a lot of their major diets (some good one’s, Atkins, The Zone), they put them all together statistically …
Help answer the question about weight loss diet
What are some of the best weight loss diet plans?
Like everyone else, the new year has made me want to lose weight again lol, soooo I was just wondering what recommendations you’d all have for the best weight loss diet plans?
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people are lazy and in general will always try to get out of doing something hard or challenging even if it is optimum.
I see people here post questions all the time when they really don't want the "right" answer. many are just looking for someone to agree with their logic or methodology for weight loss and to agree with them.
In your case, it wouldn't help much. I believe Alli works by blocking fat absorption in your intestines, which often causes some problems with your feces being fatty. You're already eating low fat, so that'd be pointless. Besides 1-2 pounds a week is a healthy, reasonable pace. Just be patient and be glad you're making that kind of progress!
Hey thanks that’s such a perfect answer or response. Really appreciate it!
Would it count as a complete and balanced breakfast? No, but eating that piece of fruit for breakfast would be much better than eating nothing at all. Also, it really depends upon your goals/weight/diet. If you eat that piece of fruit for breakfast and then eat every 2-3 hours (small meals) you should be fine. But again, eating something when you wake up is better than eating nothing at all. You need energy when you go off of fasting (the night sleep).
People always want a quick fix.
But other than that I don't really see the point to your rant [not a question really].
does a fruit count as breakfast like an apple or a banana?
the same calories yes, of course.
The calorie content is the same. The difference is this. By sleeping in until 2pm you are going without food (energy) for a longer period of time. Specifically 4 hours longer than if you were to get up and eat at 10am. The longer you go without food going into your body, the more your body is inclined to store calories as fat the next time you eat. Why? Because your body is concerned with survival, not a perfect body. Also, sleeping too much can be detrimental as well.
Sterolyn has brought my triglycerides down to 145 mg/dl and my LDL down to 95 mg/dl! My doctor calls me “the freak of nature,” haha. I plan to keep taking this forever. And hey, I’m enjoying my free subscription to Fitness magazine, it’s part of an overall lifestyle change.
While a low calorie diet is effective for weight loss, you should combine your diet program with a workout program. However, be careful not to overdo it (don’t try to lose more than 2 lbs per week!). To start a low-calorie diet, you need to use a menu planner with a calorie counter. You can find a free one at http://www.projectweightloss.com. With a menu planner, you can choose your meals the web site shows you how many calories you eat with your meals, and how many you need to eat daily to reach your target weight.
Yes there is some truth to that. Although there are no calories in diet soda, the artificial sweeteners have been known to increase cravings for real sugar, thus hampering any weight loss efforts.
You got thumbed down? haha, thats hilarious, as complicated and as much of a huge money making bastard the weight loss sector has become, this guy has just told you the key to weight loss, for free.
There is some evidence that the ingestion of artificial sweetners boost insulin levels which promotes fat storage how solid this information is is up for debate. I personally try to avoid artifical sweetners as much as possible simply because they are unnatural and there is some evidence linked to health issues and besides you dont need them.
On the surface it sounds like you are craving sugar and are substituting this with artificial sweetners. A solid balanced diet of healthy nutrient dense food should eliminate most cravings.
The body is a relatively simple machine when it comes to weight loss its mostly about calories in versus calories out but also partly the type of calories you consume.
If you are struggling with weight loss you havent got your programme right you may want to speak to a nutritionist or join a gym and get some advice from a trainer. But if your not overweight its likely you just need to tone up a bit you'll be amazed at how much putting on a little lean muscle and shedding some body fat does for body image.
good luck
8 is false
Mr. Trudeau is an entrepenuer and not a very good one at that. There is no science involved at all.
Eight marketers of self-help and health-related products promoted in radio and television infomercials have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that ad claims for their products were false or unsubstantiated. The defendants will pay a total of $1.1M to settle the charges and one defendant will be required to establish a $500,000 escrow account, which will be used to repay consumers should he commit similar law violations in the future. A ninth defendant faces trial on FTC charges in federal district court.
Kevin Trudeau developed and hosted radio and TV infomercials for a range of products in conjunction with two infomercial production companies, Mega Systems, Inc. and Tru-Vantage, L.L.C. Many of the infomercials had names such as, "A Closer Look," and were formatted to appear to be commercial radio and TV interview programs or talk shows, not the advertisements they actually were. Five respondents, including Trudeau himself, invented or manufactured the products or services that were featured in the infomercials and appeared in the infomercials promoting them.
NO!
hi how r u